Grain-binder



(Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 1.

C. W. LBVALLEY.

(Model.)

G. W. 'LMALLESLV GRAIN BINDER.

No. 245,924. Patented Aug. 16,1881..

N. PETERS, Pholvumngrapher. washington. D. t:4

(MOdel.)

l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. W. LEVALLBY. GRAIN BINDER. 111,245,924.

Patented Aug. 16,1881.

Wifmemef f 765W naiv-45 N PE'IERS, mmmmhogmphw. wnmmnwn. D. C,

(Model.) 5 sheetssheet 4.

C. W. LBVALLBY. GRAIN BINDER.

\ No. 245,924. Patented Aug. 16,1881l Fly, c..2 6

(Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 5.

C. W. LE'VALLEY.

GRAIN BINDER.

Patented Aug. `16, 103.81.

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER W. LEVALLEY, OF SI. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,924, dated August16, 1881.

Application filed September 13, 1880.

To aZZ whom tt may concern Be itknow n th at I, GHnstloPnEa W. LEVAL-LEY, a citizen of the United States,residin gat St. Paul, in the countyof ltainsey and State of Minnesota ,haveinven ted certai u new anduseful Improvements in Grain-Binders; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form apart ofthis specification.

Figure 1 is an elevation ot' my improved binder, taken from the stubbleside. Fig. 2 shows the support for one end ot' the upper sliding bar.Fig. 3 is aview, partlyin section and partly in elevation, taken fromthe rear. Fig.4 is a iront elevation of the devices for actuating theneedle andtheneedle-frame when the latter are mounted at the front endof the inaehine, as shown in Figs. l and Fig. 5 is a view ofthe rack andcogged plate which actuate the needle. Fig. 6 is a top view ot' thecogged plate and its adjusting devices. Fig. 7 is a view ofthe last saiddevices taken from the outer end of the sector-plate. Fig. S is a Viewofthe needle and the gavel-compressors detached. Fig.9 is a side viewot`the last said devices in the positions occupied during the operation otltying. Fig. 10 is a front view of the spring and friction-roller .forforcing the compressor against the gavel. Fig. 11 is a side view of thesame parts. Fig. 12 is a view of a crank-arm detached,shown in Figs. Sand 9. Fig. 13 is a perspective view ot' the tripping rock-shaftdetached. Figs. 14,15,and 16 illustrate'one form of mechanism forthrowing the binder into and out of operation, Fig. 14 being a top-planview thereof, Fig. 15 an end elevation, taken from the rear end of thebinder, and Fig. 16 a side elevation, taken from the grain side of themachine. Figs. 17,18, 19, and 20 illust-rate a modified form ofmechanism for the last said purpose, Fig. 17 being a top plan thereof,Fig. 18 an end elevation, Fig. 19 a side elevation from the stubble sideof themachine, and Fig. 20 a top view ot' the toggle-levers shown inFig.19 detached. Figs.21, 22, and 23 illustrate a modified form ot'mechanism for actuating the needle and needle-frame,

(Model.)

Fig. 22 being an elevation from the stubble side of' the machine, Fig.21 an end view from the rear end of the binder, and Fig. .'3 a view ofthe needle-operating devices detached, in the position occupied whenthtl needleis at the end of its upward throw. Fig. 24 is a top view ofthe tension devices. Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 26 isa perspective view ot the intermittent tension detached and on a largerscale.4 Fig. 27 illustrates the various positions of the cord. Fig. 2Sis a view of the gavel-receiver detached.

In the drawings, A8 A represent standards; A B', girts, and Aw theelevatorframe.

JX is an upright secured to the elevatorframe, and having a bracket,J3,attached to it.

The binder-frame hasa top bar,J6, and lower bar, R1, brackets Rz R5 R6,and an upright, J, the latter attached to bar J6 and to bracket R6 by asupplemental bracket, r6. The binderframe slides on the elevator-frame,substantially as described in my Patent No. 226,865.

F represents the table which receives the grain from the elevator.

pp are needle-guides, there being between them a transverse slot in thetable P.

The needle-frame may be mounted on the binder-frame, either at the frontend, as shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, S, and 9, or at the rear end,as shown in Figs. 21, 22, and 23.

In Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 the needle M M is attached toashaft,m, which is mounted in the needle-frame L L L'3. The framevibrates on shaft Z, supportedin brackets R5 R6, and extending to thefront of the latter.

L5, Fig. 4, is a crank-arm on shaft Z, engaging with a bell-crank, L4,which has a curvilinear slot, Z2.

Lg'is alink pivoted to bell-crank L", and to an arm, Ll", ot' theneedletrame.

L7 is a bar pivoted to crank-arm L5, having a rack, Z3, Fig. 5, at itsupper end, which engages with a spur-segment, L8. A

L11 is a guide for rack Z3, the guide being supported by an arm, L.

Z4 is au eye or sleeve on arni L12, and through it bar L"I passes.

By means ot' these devices the needle-frame is swung toward and from theelevator, and at the proper time the needle is oscillated with its shaftm.

The spur-segment L8 is secured to shaft m by a clutch-plate, m' m2,which permits it to be adjusted thereon. The clutch has a hub, m3, andthe needle-shaft passes through said hub and through the segment L". Thesegment has a rearwardly-extendingarm, l5, which is notched, asindicated at m5, to engage with the adjacent face of the part m'of theclutc'nplate.

m4 m4 are bolts, which fasten the clutch-plate to the segment, passingthrough slots. The segment L8 is loose on the needleshal't, and theclutch-plate keyed to said shaft. After loosening bolts m4 the needleand its shaft can be oscillated in Yeither direction relatively to thesegment L8 and secured in a new position. Thus the needle can beproperly timed; butI do not in this case claim the segment, the slottedclutch-plates, the bolts, or any of the devices shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6,and 7 for thus adjusting or timing the needle upon the needleshaft, as Iprefer to make these parts the suhject-matterof another applicationwhich I have tiled as a division of this case.

The devices for operating the needle and needle-frame are constructed asfollows, referring still to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and also to Fig. 14: Theshaft l (which, through crank-arm L5, arm L7, and bell-crank L, conveysthe neces- -sary motions to the needle and its frame) carries aspur-wheel at l', which is rotated by a wheel,R7. The latter is keyed tothe main shaft R4, which is mounted in the brackets R2` and R5. Thisshaft R4 is rotated by a wheel, R3, which, in turn, is actuated by apinion, S', the latter shown in Fig. 14. Said pinion is mounted looselyupon a shaft, S, but can be engaged therewith by a feathered clutch, S2.The shaft S is rotated by a chain receiving power from the harvester, orby other preferred means. The clutch S2 may be engaged with anddisengaged from they pinion S', either by an ordinary shipping-leverextending within reach of the driver, or by au automatic mechanism.

The mechanism which actuates the needle and its frame also operates thecompressor, which latter' I will now describe. It is represented by ANN', and is pivoted at a to an'arm, L2, projecting inwardly from theneedle-frame. The lower part, N, is somewhat S-shaped. The inner ed geof the upper part, N', describes substantially the arc of a circle. O isa plate on the side of the needle MM', having a dovetailed groove in oneface. 0 is a block which slides in said groove and carries africtionroller, o'. o4 is an angle-iron secured to plate O, and ()2is astem passing through said angleiron and attached to block o. O' is aspiral spring which presses against the block o and `the angle-iron 04,the downward movement of the block o being limited by a nut, o5. Theseparts are shown detached in Figs. l0 and 11. As the needle rises andfalls the roller 0' is held in contact with the inner edge of thecompressor N N', and when the parts are in the compressor R.

position shown in Fig. 9 the compressor N'is forced downwardly upon thegavel Z by the spiral spring O'.

R represents a supplemental compressor, pivoted at rf'.

R' is a bell-lever, pivoted to a stud, r, projectin g from bracket R5.

r is a link connecting said bell-crank and r' is a crank-arm or cam-armcarried by main shaft R4. Preferably it is forked and provided with ananti-friction roller. It bears against the bell-crank R' and actuatescompressor R. The parts are timed so that the compressor R shall beginto act at the instant the knotting mechanism begins to operate, in orderto relieve the band from tension and permit it to cumulated to form agavel it actuates said devices which cause the engagement.

K K' representendless feeding-belts mounted on rollers at the upper andat the lower ends. The upper rollers are rotated by a shaft, K2, whichis mounted in uprights J and J".

7a2 is a sprocket-wheel on shaft K2, driven, preferably, by the upperroller ofthe elevatorbelt, as shown by dotted lines at 7a2, Fig. 3.

-The sprocket-Wheel k2 is feathered on shaft K2,

so that the latter can slide through it. Y 704 is a forked arm securedto the elevator-frame, and it holds the wheel 7c3 in permanent position.relative to its driving-wheel.

J'isaleverpivoted upon barJU. j isaforked rod hinged to the inner endofl lever J', and having the lower roller of belt Kjournaled in itsforked ends. If the lower roller of belt K `be elevated it will elevatethe inner end of lever J'.

J2 J4 represent a rock-shaft, the part J2 lying substantiallyhorizontally beneath the inner side .of the binder, and extending fromthe vertical plane of the outer end of lever J to Athat of the wheels S'and R3, and the clutching -mechanismj' is a link connecting theouter endof lever J'with a crank, j, on the forward end ,of rock-shaft J2. Whenthe roller of belt K raises the inner end of lever J' the outer endfalls and shaft J2 rocks, so as to lift the short upwardly-projectingarm J4.

Immediately above the arm J4 are togglelevers J3 J3, pivoted, one to theframe-bracket R2 and the other to a shifting-lever, S4, which at thefront end is supported loosely on shaft R4. The wheels S' R3 are mountedon their .shafts between the parts R2 S4. When the toggle-levers J3 lieboth in the same plane they hold lever S4 and and clutch S2 away fromwheel S'. Lever S4 engages loosely with clutch S2 IOO IIO

ISO

and shifts the clutch out and in, and it (said lever) is moved outwardby a cam, r2, on wheel R3, arranged to bear against the lever, orpreferably against a roller, s4, thereon. This cani r2 is ot' sufficientdepth to push the clutch S2 out of engagement with wheel S', and thisoccurs once in every revolution of the main wheel R3. The forcingoutward of lever S4 by cam r2 brings toggle-levers J 3 J3 into the sameplane, and while there they'lock the clutch out of engagement. If thearm'J4 of rock-shaft J2 J4 be raised by the devices described above, itwill unlock the toggle-levers J3J3, and then clutch S2 cati be movedinward again. This inward moving is effected by a spring, s', connectedto lever S4 by a stem, s, the spring bearing against a nut, s2.

If the parts be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 14, 15, and 16, andif the straw between the table 13 and beltK forces the lower roller ofsaid belt upward, the following results will occur successively, namely:The outer end of lever J' will descend, the shaft J2 will be rocked, thearm J4 of said shaft will be raised,'the toggle-levers J3 J3 will beunlocked, spring s' will draw clutch S2 into engagement with pinion S',and wheel R3 and main shaft R4 will be rotated. Shalt R4 imparts motionto the needle M M', to the needle-frame L L', to the compressors N andR, and to the tying mechanism. (Not shown.) During one revolution ot'wheel R3 the needle descends, the gavel is compressed, the knot is tied,and the needle is raised; and at the end of these operations cam r2pushes clutch S2 to its outer position, and the toggle -levers J3 J3lock it there till suthcient straw has accumulated to again raise beltK.

'lo carry cam r2 below the roller s* a spur, r3, is formed, projectingfrom cam r2. Itis arranged to lie in the path ofthe teeth of clutch S2,immediately afterthe clutch has been forced out by cam r2, and hence theclutch engages for a moment with said spur and turns wheel R3 a shortdistance to carry cam r2 below the roller s4.

s3 is a sleeve around stein s, arranged to act as a stop to preventspring s' from drawing clutch S2 too forcibly or too tightly againstwheel S.

1 have shown a modification of the clutchmoving mechanism, and also amodicationof the needle-operating devices.

The modiiied iorm of clutch mechanism `is shown in Figs. 17, 18, 19, and20, wherein R2 represents the frame bracket; T, the main shaft; T', thewheelthereon; t,acam on wheel T'; U', the power-shaft; U, a loose pinionon said shaft; U2, a sliding clutch; U3, a shipping-lever; u', the stemattached to said lever; u2, a. spring around the stem, eachcorresponding, respectively, to 'the parts R2 R4 R3 r2 S S' S2 S4 s s',already described. 1n this construction crankarm J4 is nearly beneaththe stubble side of the clutch. When it rises it unlocks thetoggle-levers t2 t3 pivoted Ato bar T2,

secured to frame-bracket R2. gie-levers is pivoted in aI slot, t'. 'I3is a link pivoted at its lower end to the'toggle-levers, and at itsupper end to a link, t4. Link t* is pivoted to an arm, t5, projectingfrom lever U3. t2 is a roller mounted on the pivot which coitnects linksT3 and t4. These links are raised with toggle-levers t2 t3, by crank-armJ4, into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 19. When these partsare in thiselevated position the clutch is free to bc moved inward byspring u2. At the instant wheel T' is completing its revolution cam tengages with roller t2 and the parts are returned into the positionshown in full lines, Figs. 17 and 19.

ln Figs. 21,22, and 23 I have shown devices for actuating theneedle-frame and needle, which possess some advantages over those shownin the other figures; but l do not in this case claim either themechanism shown in said Figs. 21, 22, and 23, not' those in the otherfigures which are adapted for operating the needle and needle-frame.

rlhe needle-frame consists ofan upper sleeve, V2, for shaft w, a lowersleeve, V, and the conncctingstandard V', the whole mounted andoscillating on shaft V3 at the rear end of the binder.

V4 is the main driving-shaft, and Va wheel thereon ,correspondi n grespectively to the parts R4 and R3 in the construction above described.The needle W and shaft w are oscillated in the frame by means of acrank-arm, W', attached to shaft tr, a crank-piti, fu, connected towheel V5, and a pitnmn-connection between them. The pitntan-connectionconsists of an upper part, w3, pivoted to crank W', and a lower part,'w' to2, pivoted to the crank-pin n. The upper and lower parts of thepitman are pivoted together at w5.

V7 is an arm rigidly attached to the part w' 102 of the pitnian, andprovided with a curvilinear slot. 104 is a wrist-pin projecting fromcrank W' and arranged to traverse the slotin arm V7. These parts controlproperly the movements of the pitman-sections relatively to theneedle-shaft and needle-frame.

The needle-frame is oscillated by a slotted lever, V6, and a link, V".The crank-pin 'u engages with the slotted lever V6 and operates to swingit forward and backward, and withit the needleframe. The slotted leverV6 is pivoted at c' to thc frame of the binder, or to a suitable bracketor hanger.

With the needlet'rame last described, and shown in Figs. 2l, 22,and 23,maybe combined the compressors and driving mechanism hereinbcforedescribed, and also an automatic clutch-shifting mechanism, such as theone shown in Figs. 14, ]5,and 16,0r shown in Figs. 17, l, and 19.

The cord is supplied to the needle from a holder, M3, the tension beingregulated by devices supported upon bar J6. It (the cord) passes betweenpins g5 g3, then undt-r an adjustabletension-arm, Q, thence in a zigzagpath One of the tog- IPO ITO

4 A gasses around pins q2, thence through the eye of a spring take-up,Q4, thence through a stationary eye, g4, and then to the eye of theneedle. The pins g5 q project upwardly from a plate, Q', on the top ofbar JU. At q a spring and thumb-nut are arranged to adjust the tensionof arm Q, said arm having a part arranged across the plate Q'. The pinsq2 project upwardly from aplate, Q', also on the top of bar J6. Thedesired tension is produced by the pressure ot' arm Q and the pins g2,which may be varied in number. Thespring-arm Q4 takes up the slack cord,in whatever position the needle may be. While the needleis carrying theVcord around the gavel the cord immediately below eye g4 runs betweenrows of peculiarlyconstructed tension-studs g3. These studs projectlaterally from a plate, Q3, which is bolted to bar JG in a pendentposition. Each stud is substantially oval at its base in cross-section,and pointed at its upper end. They are arranged in a zigzag line, withtheir bases overlappingeachothersomewhat. Theouteredges, g8 QB, (seeFig. 26,) are substantially straight, but the inner edges are roundedboth in cross and longitudinal section. The slope of the inner edges ofthe studs is such as to gradually decrease the degree to which theyoverlap each other, (coming from the base outward toward the point,) andthey graduallyincrease in length from the top to the bottoin of theseries. As the needle is beginning to enter the grain it forces the corddown between these I studs until it lies close to the plate Q3 inazigzag path from the eye g4 to the eye of the needle. The cord followsthis zigzag pat-h while the needle is performing the first part of itsoperation, and it is therefore subjected to a tension supplemental tothat caused by the above-described tension devices. This supplementaltension continues till the needle nearly reaches the limit of itsdownward movement. Just before it reaches this limit, and just beforethe tying devices begin to operate, the cord escapes from the studs Q3,as shown by line y, Fig. 27, and therefore cord is supplied free fromthis tension during the tying. When the needle is in its uppermostposition the cord takes the path y', Fig. 27.

F' P2 are lingers projecting from the stubble side of the binder toreceive the bound gavel. The forward finger, P2, is shorter than therear one, and as the butt-end of the gavel before falling rests upon theforward finger, said end will fall first when the gavel is pushedlaterally outward. This insures that the bundle shall strike the groundin a substantially upright position, and avoids the scattering of grainincident to the ordinary mode of dropping the gavel. The plane of thesefingers F' P2 is some distance below that of table P. The gavel isthrust from the latter tothe former by the toe or point of compressor N,which, as the compressor comes downward to compress a new gavel,descends behind the last gavel and moves it outward as the compressorand needle swing outward.

A stripping device is combined with the needle of such character thatwhen the needle is rising it shall remove from the needle any loosestraw which may be clinging to it. This stripper consists of a barpivoted at one end to the needle-frame, and at the other arranged torest upon the top bar of the binder or the elevator frame, there beingau eye upon the supporting-bar arranged to guide the stripper as itslides to and fro upon said bar. The needle rises in close proximity tothe strippingbar. It is represented in Figs. l and 3 by M2, and in Figs.2l, 22, and 23 by X2 XX', the part X X' being forked and pivoted to theneedle-frame. This device may, if preferred, be so arranged as tosupport some or all of the tension devices. The plate Q', with pins Q5 qand tension-arm Q, and the pins g2, (already hereinbefore described,)may be supported upon the stripper at the point indicated by x2, Fig.21. The take-up Q4 may be supported thereon as indicated at x3, and theeye g4 may be also attached thereto at the point indicated by 004.

k6 k6 are guide-wires depending from sliding' bar JG, and serving toproperly direct the grain after it leaves the elevator.

ln Fig. 3 is shown that part of the harvester which elevates the grainto the binder. There are two elevator-belts, the journals ofthe lowerroller of the upper belt being mounted iu slots a, which permits thelower end of said belt to rise and fall relative to the lower belt. Thisarrangement insures that the grain shall be uniformly delivered to thebindingltable, and prevents the large tangled masses of straw IOO fromlifting the belt Ktoo suddenly, and thus starring the binding mechanismbefore suincient grain has accumulated fora gavel. When the mountings ofthe lower elevator-belt rollers are ofthe ordinary character-that is,unyielding-the tangled masses of grain often clog the elevator to suchan extent that large masses of straw are suddenly delivered to thebindertable, which force up belt K and start the binding mechanism toosoon. This is avoided by combining with the automatic clutch-shiftingmechanism above described the elevator-belt mounted at the lower end inthe manner set forth.

The belts K and Kl are preferably arranged on rollers ofditterentdiameters, and are moved with different speeds, so that the Vstraw shallbe delivered uniformly,notwithstanding the difference in size betweenthe butt-ends of the straw and the head ends. The belt K operates notonly to trip the mechanism which op" erates the binder, but also topacl; the grain com pactly and advantageously after it has beendelivered by the elevator-belts, the weight of the belts K K' pressingupon the grain as it passes over the table P, and insuring that thegrain shall be packed against the binding-cord with sufficient densityto insure the making of a bundle ot' satisfactory size.

What I claim isl. The combination, with the needle M M',

IIO

IZO

of the compressor N N', and the friction-roller o', forced downward by aspring, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the needle M M', the elevator-frame, and theframe which swings the needle toward and from the elevator-frame, of theneedle-stripper pivoted at one end to the needle-frame in a verticalplane adjacentto that of the needle, and arranged to reciprocatelongitudinally on the elevator-frame, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the needle-frame arranged to swing toward andfrom the elevator, the needle pivoted on said frame to swing verticallythereon, and the compressor N N', pivoted to the needle-frameindependently of the needle, of the supplemental compressor R, andmechanism arranged to force said compressor against the gavel after theneedle and the compressor N N' have come to rest, substantially as setforth.

4. ln a grain-binder, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore setforth, of the followingelements,namely: the vertically-swingingcord-carrying needle, the compressor N N', arranged to force the strawagainst said needle, the supplemental compressor R, the bellcrank'R',link r, the main shaft It, mechanism for imparting motion from saidshaft to said needle and said compressorN N', and the crank-arm r',situated relatively to said mechanism to move compressor Rwhile theneedle and compressor N N' are at rest and the knot is being tied.

5. The grain-receiver P' P2, having the nger I?2 shorter than the fingerP', substantially as set forth.

6. In a grain-binder, the combination, with the grain-elevator, of alower surface adapted to support the grain during its descent from theelevator to the table over which grain is moved to the bindingmechanism, and a feeding-belt having its lower end mounted on a movableroller, substantially as set forth.

7. In a grain-binder, the combination, with a grain-table over which thegrain is moved to the binding mechanism, of a feeding-belt mounted atits upper end upon and driven by a roller which is capable of beingmoved longitudinally1 relative to the upper end of the grainelevator,substantially as set forth.

8. In a grain-binder, the combination, with a surface adapted to supportthe grain during its descent from the elevator to the grain-table overwhich grain is moved to the binding mechanism, of a feeding-belt havingits lower end mounted upon a movable roller, and arranged substantiallyas set forth, whereby the weight of said belt and roller is caused topress the grain upon the grain-support and bindingtable, as set forth.

9. In a grain-binder, the combination, with a grain-table over whichgrain is moved to the binding mechanisln, of a feeding-belt having itslower end movable, and mechanism connecting said belt with the deviceswhich throw the binding mechanism into action, substantially as setforth.

l0. Thecombination, with the binding mechanism, the devices which throwsaid mechanism into and out of operation, and the endless belt K,suspended above the binding-table and arranged to carry the graindownward, ofthe lever J', pivoted above the binder-frame, the link j',pivoted to said lever, the rock-shaft J 2 J4, beneath the binding-table,and the togglelevers J3 J 3, as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination of the gear-wheel R3, pinion S', havingclutch-teeth, the shippinglever S4, clutch S2, cam r2, spur r3,toggle-levers J3 J3, spring s', and rod s, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the elevator-frame, the sliding binder-fraine,the tension devices, and the lever J', of the upright J", secured to theelevator-frame, the upright J, attached to the binder-frame, and the barJ 6, secured to the upright J at one end and arranged to slide at theother end on upright J and to support the tension devices andtripping-lever J', as set forth.

13. In a grain-binder, the combination, with the binder-arm and thecord-supplying devices, of the herein-described intermittent tensiondevice constructed with the series or" studs g3 of different lengths,substantially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER LEVALLEY.

Witnesses:

J. S. BARKER,

M. P. CALLAN.

